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Several Braves need boost in All-Star voting

Freeman, Gattis and Simmons lose ground in latest National League update

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2014 All-Star ballot 0:31

Visit MLB.com/Vote to decide which Major Leaguers will participate in the 2014 Midsummer Classic at Target Field on July 15

By Mark Bowman
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MLB.com |

ATLANTA -- This past week was not a good one for Braves players in this year's All-Star balloting process. Freddie Freeman, Evan Gattis and Andrelton Simmons each slipped at least one spot at their respective positions. In fact, Simmons no longer ranks among the top five National League shortstops.

Freeman, Gattis and Justin Upton, who ranks seventh among outfielders, were the only Braves players listed on updated ballot results which were released early Tuesday afternoon. The weekly updates include the top five players at each infield position and the top 15 outfielders.

Freeman received a record number of votes as he earned his first All-Star selection as the NL's Final Vote winner last year. But he has not yet received similar attention in this balloting process. He fell from second to third among NL first basemen this week. His 511,177 votes place him behind the Dodgers' Adrian Gonzalez (647,826) and the Rockies' Justin Morneau (525,614).

Gattis (388,548) fell from third to fourth among NL catchers. He is nearly 900,000 votes behind the leader, Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina (1,210,579), who has garnered more votes than any NL player other than Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzski (1,419,718).

Upton has ranked seventh among NL outfielders when each of this year's first two updates have been released. He stands nearly 400,000 votes behind Yasiel Puig's leading total (935,276) and a little more than 300,000 behind Giancarlo Stanton (863,307), who is currently positioned to win the final starting spot in the NL's outfield.

Simmons fell out of the top five after ranking third among NL shortstops last week. With a further reminder that defensive contributions do not weigh heavily among the voters, Jason Heyward, who leads the Majors with 17 defensive runs saved, does not rank among the top 15 outfielders.

Fans can cast their votes for starters at MLB.com and all 30 club sites -- online or on a mobile device -- using the 2014 All-Star Game MLB.com Ballot Sponsored by Experian until Thursday, July 3, at 11:59 p.m. ET. The 2014 All-Star Game will be played at Target Field on Tuesday, July 15.

Fans may submit up to 25 online ballots, but they can also earn a one-time bonus of 10 additional online ballots. To access these additional online ballots, you must be logged into your MLB.com account when you submit any online ballot. If you do not have an MLB.com account, register on the site in accordance with the enrollment instructions for a free MLB.com account.

Fans this year once again can participate in the Home Run Derby Fan Poll. Fans will have the opportunity to select three players in each league who they would most like to see participate in the Home Run Derby. The 2014 Home Run Derby will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN HD, ESPN Deportes and ESPN Radio in the United States beginning at 8 p.m. ET on Monday, July 14.

The 2014 American League and National League All-Star teams will be unveiled on the 2014 MLB All-Star Game Selection Show during the weekend of July 5-6, with further details to follow on MLB.com. Immediately following the announcement of the AL and NL All-Star rosters, fans can begin voting to select the final player for each league's 34-man roster via the 2014 All-Star Game MLB.com Final Vote Sponsored by Experian. Fans will cast their votes from a list of five players from each league over the balloting period.

And the voting doesn't end there. The final phase of All-Star Game voting will again have fans participating in the voting for the Ted Williams All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award presented by Chevrolet. During the Midsummer Classic, fans will vote exclusively online at MLB.com via the 2014 All-Star Game MLB.com MVP Vote Sponsored by Pepsi, and their voice will represent 20 percent of the overall vote that determines the recipient of the Arch Ward Trophy.

The 85th All-Star Game will be televised nationally by FOX, in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and RDS, and worldwide by partners in more than 200 countries via MLB International's independent feed. ESPN Radio and ESPN Radio Deportes will provide national radio coverage of the All-Star Game. MLB Network and SiriusXM will also provide comprehensive All-Star Week coverage. For more information, please visit allstargame.com.

Mark Bowman is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.